How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

[ar26]

I've had lots of different jobs including being a brickies labourer & a Labourer on a building site. In all honesty being a postie is far harder work and no where near the money I was getting as a labourer back in the eighties. People don;t believe me when I tell them though. The public has no idea of how hard we work for whilst not a bad wage doesn't equate to how hard we push ourselves to get it. In fact I'm seriously considering a change of career before they kill me

[slave]

We work hard, sure there are harder jobs out there, but there are plenty more that are easier - and if it's so easy why have I seen so many people (far too many to count) walk out, give up and go elsewhere?? I for one am more tired now than I was 10 years ago (ok, I'm older but still physically fit) - the job is harder and it is only going to get worse unless people stop running around like twats or booking overtime and clearing everything every day - the more you do the more they expect you to do.
Pay is not bad compared with other jobs, one of the reasons I put up with it to be honest and that once out on delivery I'm on my own (generally).

Break, get 20minutes before we go out and then are told to take rest at end of day - wonder how many other businesses operate like that.. Toilet when out delivering 3, 4 +hours - what's one of them??

The worst part of the job is the constant hassle of managers on your back expecting you to perform more and more. Pegasus revisions, lapsing or whatever they are calling it this week, prep rates.. Book overtime and get the third degree every time like I'm robbing money out of his f...ing pocket! Tell them you don't want to work over your time and get watched like a hawk and have the hassle of arguing the toss about how bad the delivery actually is, then they prep test you, scoop you etc etc.

[krussel]

We work hard, sure there are harder jobs out there, but there are plenty more that are easier - and if it's so easy why have I seen so many people (far too many to count) walk out, give up and go elsewhere?? I for one am more tired now than I was 10 years ago (ok, I'm older but still physically fit) - the job is harder and it is only going to get worse unless people stop running around like twats or booking overtime and clearing everything every day - the more you do the more they expect you to do.
Pay is not bad compared with other jobs, one of the reasons I put up with it to be honest and that once out on delivery I'm on my own (generally).

Break, get 20minutes before we go out and then are told to take rest at end of day - wonder how many other businesses operate like that.. Toilet when out delivering 3, 4 +hours - what's one of them??

The worst part of the job is the constant hassle of managers on your back expecting you to perform more and more. Pegasus revisions, lapsing or whatever they are calling it this week, prep rates.. Book overtime and get the third degree every time like I'm robbing money out of his f...ing pocket! Tell them you don't want to work over your time and get watched like a hawk and have the hassle of arguing the toss about how bad the delivery actually is, then they prep test you, scoop you etc etc.

Yes i agree with this. The running around like wallys really comes from the old job and finish culture when we really could make two hours a day. Thats dead now and i think will slowly die out everywhere in the next couple of years. I am really lucky to be in a small office with only two managers so we tend not to get too hassled but i have experienced all that crap in the past.

Its interesting to get two completely different views from the building trade, most traders i know do work really hard for about 5 hours in a day but knock off early just to get some parts etc.

Has no one drifted in from a clerical job ?

[Puppetmaster]

Comparing with other jobs is so difficult,may be ok job now but take alook around at the older boys,How Many bad necks,bad backs,bad knees ,bad ankles.
Why do so many of them get of foot deliverys to driving or indoor work asap.

What other jobs,do Managers ,routinely ignore health and safety and most are only interested in 2 things,getting the mail out of the door,is it home time yet ?
and attractive young female posties.

[heapsy]

There are many answers to the question "How hard do we work?" This depends on such factors as what type of office and job do you actually do. A colleague of mine was sent to the mail centre for xmas a number of years back. He couldn't believe the number of breaks they took. I am in delivery, as many of you will know, there are no hard and fast rules on your working day. By this I mean that if it is a busy day, and you get off the ips late, then you are pushed for time to complete within duty. This doesn't happen in other areas or RM where, say in processing, once you do your shift, you go home and someone takes over. I have worked in delivery for over 20 years at the same office and the changes have been enormous. For a start, the amount of mail. I now have twice the number of bags than all those years ago. The walks are bigger than they were back then. We used to have 65 walks when I started. This crept up to 72 over time as new estates were built and the traffic increased. We now have only 55 walks! Something else that has changed, which has created more problems than anything, is the amount of time spent INDOORS.
When I started we did no more than 30 minutes ips, 45 on a busy day, unless it was xmas pressure. Now we do about an hour and a half, to two hours depending on traffic, more at xmas. On top of this we now deliver to bigger walks which take longer. THIS has created more problems than anything in the delivery function of RM. It makes a huge contribution to the overtime that is claimed within an office. The main problem is that we do NOT have a cut-off time from the ips or the ability to stream the mail due to the need for quality of service. Those of you who deliver will also know that the time your duty takes can vary from day to day due to traffic, recorded signatures, number of packets to knock for, the list goes on. Unless something is changed then there will be continued problems.

[krussel]

There are many answers to the question "How hard do we work?" This depends on such factors as what type of office and job do you actually do. A colleague of mine was sent to the mail centre for xmas a number of years back. He couldn't believe the number of breaks they took. I am in delivery, as many of you will know, there are no hard and fast rules on your working day. By this I mean that if it is a busy day, and you get off the ips late, then you are pushed for time to complete within duty. This doesn't happen in other areas or RM where, say in processing, once you do your shift, you go home and someone takes over. I have worked in delivery for over 20 years at the same office and the changes have been enormous. For a start, the amount of mail. I now have twice the number of bags than all those years ago. The walks are bigger than they were back then. We used to have 65 walks when I started. This crept up to 72 over time as new estates were built and the traffic increased. We now have only 55 walks! Something else that has changed, which has created more problems than anything, is the amount of time spent INDOORS.
When I started we did no more than 30 minutes ips, 45 on a busy day, unless it was xmas pressure. Now we do about an hour and a half, to two hours depending on traffic, more at xmas. On top of this we now deliver to bigger walks which take longer. THIS has created more problems than anything in the delivery function of RM. It makes a huge contribution to the overtime that is claimed within an office. The main problem is that we do NOT have a cut-off time from the ips or the ability to stream the mail due to the need for quality of service. Those of you who deliver will also know that the time your duty takes can vary from day to day due to traffic, recorded signatures, number of packets to knock for, the list goes on. Unless something is changed then there will be continued problems.

The cutting off from IPS is a good point. We used to cut off after a max of 1 hour IPS and what was left went onto the 2nd delivey, of course with that gone we now carry on until the managers think we have had enough. This does lead to added pressure to prep and get out esp when you already have mech trays stacked on your bench. With the introduction of the automation of flat sorting and frame sequenced mech we should be able to get out onto the rounds earlier. BUT of course this new tech needs to be paid for and will no doubt lead to a loss of man power which will end up with more indoor work per head meaning we won't gain anything but longer rounds.

[tiredwalker]

EASY......Do The Job Properly and Work Your Contracted Hours you will feel a lot better.
STOP coming in early
DO take a full meal break
STOP running
WEAR your seat belt at all times
NO mail in front of van (even to immediate delivery point)
WEIGH your bags (keep to the matrix given)
DONT run on delivery
CUT-OFF when your workload is unachievable
Keep to these guidelines given by ROYAL MAIL your job is easier....believe you me......stop being their goffer for more savings you fools !!!!!
:cfo :mfo :lfo

Hopefully not being a niave newbie here but how does taking a full meal break affect things? The way I look at it is if I only take a 10 minute break then I get finished 30 minutes earlier. It is not affecting the job I do and my DOM knows I am doing this. I am still doing my contracted hours at the end of the day.

Do you add the balance of your break onto the end of your shift? As I used to do that as has been agreed previously, however our DOM has now decided to make cuts based on us going out early, so now I take full break before I go out and don't often leave the office till 10:30 at earliest. I just wish all my collegues would realize this is what is killing the job. My DOM hates me and would love to get me on a conduct code, but do I care... NO. I do the job 100% correctly and it either costs him OT with me doing the workload or someone else when I cut off. Either way he can't do a thing about it as i'm only following the rules. And as far as the job is concerned everyone sitting in a office thinks we are underworked and overpaid, I bet they won't swap will they. Point made!!!

[johnny_fartpants]

EASY......Do The Job Properly and Work Your Contracted Hours you will feel a lot better.
STOP coming in early
DO take a full meal break
STOP running
WEAR your seat belt at all times
NO mail in front of van (even to immediate delivery point)
WEIGH your bags (keep to the matrix given)
DONT run on delivery
CUT-OFF when your workload is unachievable
Keep to these guidelines given by ROYAL MAIL your job is easier....believe you me......stop being their goffer for more savings you fools !!!!!
:cfo :mfo :lfo

Yes there is a god. Well said. if only all posties did this

[themoog]

But you go ahead and question my standard of delivery... I never leave stuff on peoples doorsteps,
It's not a hard job...trust me.

OK I see what's going on here - you are NOT doing the same job that most of us are doing! 350 delivery points?!!? My duty has 590 and it's very average in our DO. The pegasused ones are touching 700 I think, not sure. When your DO gets sorted out you will see what a hard job this can be. Would love to see your face when u get your first 700 drop round welcome to the club! You will start doorsteping packets then because it'll be the only way you will be able to finish on time.

Someone else got it right earlier. SPDO that only sees a manager every other week for an hour or so

In response to an earlier quote (by axeman)...no, I do not use my own car...no, I do not jump over fences...no, I do not run...no, I do not flout health and safety issues and no I'm not an "I can do it boss" person either...unless the boss is willing to pay me overtime. But then I have 2 young kids to think of as well so the money is needed which is why I rarely say no to overtime and am prepared to work till the job is done. I only ever book what I work as well...no ghost overtime as the job is worth more to me than a few hours fraudulently entered onto the docket.

I have no doubt that pegasus will change things. We are only now getting the RM2000 frames fitted to replace the 48 box fittings we currently use, so you can say we've been left in the dark ages with regards to equipment. In my opinion this is a good thing but in the eyes of those that have been at our office for over 20 years it isn't as they don't want to take on anymore work as, god forbid, they might have to work their time every day!

They are the ones that moan about the job daily, they are the ones who resist change and modernisation in the office, they are the ones who really piss me off with the constant complaining about everything. Yet they've been there for 20 years or more. Which makes me think...if you don't like it, go get another job. At least if they did the mood in our office wouldn't be dragged down on a daily basis and the ones that want to be there, are prepared to do the work and actually enjoy the job would be a lot happier.

[heapsy]

EASY......Do The Job Properly and Work Your Contracted Hours you will feel a lot better.
STOP coming in early
DO take a full meal break
STOP running
WEAR your seat belt at all times
NO mail in front of van (even to immediate delivery point)
WEIGH your bags (keep to the matrix given)
DONT run on delivery
CUT-OFF when your workload is unachievable
Keep to these guidelines given by ROYAL MAIL your job is easier....believe you me......stop being their goffer for more savings you fools !!!!!
:cfo :mfo :lfo

Hopefully not being a niave newbie here but how does taking a full meal break affect things? The way I look at it is if I only take a 10 minute break then I get finished 30 minutes earlier. It is not affecting the job I do and my DOM knows I am doing this. I am still doing my contracted hours at the end of the day.

Do you add the balance of your break onto the end of your shift? As I used to do that as has been agreed previously, however our DOM has now decided to make cuts based on us going out early, so now I take full break before I go out and don't often leave the office till 10:30 at earliest. I just wish all my collegues would realize this is what is killing the job. My DOM hates me and would love to get me on a conduct code, but do I care... NO. I do the job 100% correctly and it either costs him OT with me doing the workload or someone else when I cut off. Either way he can't do a thing about it as i'm only following the rules. And as far as the job is concerned everyone sitting in a office thinks we are underworked and overpaid, I bet they won't swap will they. Point made!!!

A few years back we actually had a bloke who lived in our area, but worked at the mail centre. He transferred to our office. Within weeks he chucked it and went back to the mai centre because he said the job was too much and he didn't know how we managed it.

[themoog]

EASY......Do The Job Properly and Work Your Contracted Hours you will feel a lot better.
STOP coming in early
DO take a full meal break
STOP running
WEAR your seat belt at all times
NO mail in front of van (even to immediate delivery point)
WEIGH your bags (keep to the matrix given)
DONT run on delivery
CUT-OFF when your workload is unachievable
Keep to these guidelines given by ROYAL MAIL your job is easier....believe you me......stop being their gopher for more savings you fools !!!!!

I don't go in early.
I always take my break before leaving the office.
I don't run.
I always wear my seatbelt.
Must admit to having mail in the front of the van.
Weighing bags doesn't apply.
Already answered this...I don't run.
I do not cut off...I'd rather book the overtime.

I'd also add to that list the following -

DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, use your own private car for delivery work. A) you are not insured and B) Royal Mail has these red things called vans...use one of them instead.

[24601]

Wait till you start operating the 500 sequencing machines that are allegedly on the way.

Hardest work I've ever done !!!!

[krussel]

But you go ahead and question my standard of delivery... I never leave stuff on peoples doorsteps,
It's not a hard job...trust me.

I have no doubt that pegasus will change things. We are only now getting the RM2000 frames fitted to replace the 48 box fittings we currently use, so you can say we've been left in the dark ages with regards to equipment. In my opinion this is a good thing but in the eyes of those that have been at our office for over 20 years it isn't as they don't want to take on anymore work as, god forbid, they might have to work their time every day!

They are the ones that moan about the job daily, they are the ones who resist change and modernisation in the office, they are the ones who really piss me off with the constant complaining about everything. Yet they've been there for 20 years or more. Which makes me think...if you don't like it, go get another job. At least if they did the mood in our office wouldn't be dragged down on a daily basis and the ones that want to be there, are prepared to do the work and actually enjoy the job would be a lot happier.

Did you say 48 box fittings blimey you really are still in the dark ages. I remember going from the old smaller slot frames to a RM2000 years ago and at the time the mail was simply lost in the RM2000. I thought i would never push this frame BUT now there was days like monday when i had tesco club cards letters i filled it with 6 mech trays worth. Once the IPs and flats (a stack to my waist) were in it was bursting in places. You would never get any of our deliveries prepped in a 48 box fitting anymore.

[pocky20]

well i have done a fair few jobs over the years from workin in england on the roads and on the sites right down to caretakeing jobs to takeaways now am with rm diss.and i will say this it is as hard as you make it .yeah sure you have to sling bags all day and some days are stewed under now i love a good days hard work but some days well you can just do what you need to do and not do your back in so i wont say it is the hardest job i have ever done but its up there. but it is the best job i have had by far

[slave]

themoog wrote:
I have no doubt that pegasus will change things. We are only now getting the RM2000 frames fitted to replace the 48 box fittings we currently use, so you can say we've been left in the dark ages with regards to equipment. In my opinion this is a good thing but in the eyes of those that have been at our office for over 20 years it isn't as they don't want to take on anymore work as, god forbid, they might have to work their time every day!

They are the ones that moan about the job daily, they are the ones who resist change and modernisation in the office, they are the ones who really piss me off with the constant complaining about everything. Yet they've been there for 20 years or more. Which makes me think...if you don't like it, go get another job. At least if they did the mood in our office wouldn't be dragged down on a daily basis and the ones that want to be there, are prepared to do the work and actually enjoy the job would be a lot happier.

48 box fittings, bloody hell, thought my last office had taken it's time getting these in and that was a fair few years back!

The "get another job" line is just the sort of crap I'd expect from a DOM, in fact our DOM was recently (possibly) overheard to say "if people want stability they should get another job!!"

Those that have been in the office 20years may well find the adjustments difficult - the job used to be easy, goodwill existed etc now have all that thrown out the window to be faced with being pushed into working harder and longer with deliveries being made long enough to push you to the absolute limit of what is capable so working over your time is becoming more commonplace - fine for people like you that want it but spare a thought for those that don't want to work over as they have to argue the toss with DOMs who will employ their usual bully-boy tactics to get people to do it.